As the new Congress convened on Jan. 3, the PBS NewsHour spoke with a handful of incoming freshman senators. Here is a roundup of those conversations.

Jan. 7 | Newly-seated Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, won his new job with strong support from the tea party, taking over a spot long occupied by retired Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison. Judy Woodruff spoke with Cruz about his stances on the deficit and the debt ceiling, as well as how his experience as the son of a Cuban immigrant shaped his perspective on immigration reform.

Jan. 1 | A cattle rancher by trade, Sen.-elect Deb Fischer, R-Neb., would be sworn into Congress after an election campaign which surprised many within her own party. Judy Woodruff spoke with Fischer about how her experience as a state senator has prepared her for the U.S. Senate, the need to address spending and gun control.

Dec. 20 | Former North Dakota attorney general -- and the first female in
that state elected to the Senate --Democratic Sen.-elect Heidi Heitkamp talked to
Jeffrey Brown about how she might react as a legislator to the violent events
in Newtown, Conn., her support for the Keystone Pipeline and what's ahead for
budget negotiations in Congress.

Nov. 29 I Correspondent Ray Suarez spoke with U.S. Representative turned Sen.-elect Jeff Flake,
R-Ariz., who will take over retiring Sen. Jon Kyl's seat. Flake
reflected on his hopes for the next term, including how he plans to work
across party lines to find solutions to U.S. budget
issues.

Nov. 23 I Judy Woodruff sat down with former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, newly
elected to the U.S. Senate. The Democratic lawmaker discussed his
optimism for Congress, being able to work across the aisle, his hopes for
finding the right way to balance the budget and make compromises on
tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

Nov. 19 I Angus King is one of two Independents in the incoming U.S. Senate, after
winning a seat in Maine held for 18 years by retiring Republican Sen.
Olympia Snowe. King is expected to caucus with Democrats. Jeffrey
Brown spoke to the senator-elect after his win.